Hello Startup Princess friends, it’s great to be home. I’m still jetlagged, but I’m anxious to report to you about the trip. If you didn’t know, I had the privilege and honor of going on a 8-day service mission to Bulgaria with One Heart Bulgaria, a foundation that I’ve been involved with since it’s origin (2003) as a Trustee and served on the board for a few years. I want to thank my sponsor who generously “granted my wish” for a flight, his kindness was a pure miracle (decided to go a week ahead of the trip!)
A little background: over the years I’ve been involved in fundraising efforts, program development, humanitarian aid shipments, and produced a benefit CD for One Heart Bulgaria. The reason I became drawn to this cause is because I lived in Bulgaria as a missionary for my church in 1994-95 and became fluent in the language plus developed a deep love for the people, and became concerned about the orphans (there’s 150 orphanages in the country). On my previous trip to Bulgaria in 2003 with Deborah Gardner and Heidi Barker I helped assess orphanages and develop sponsorship opportunities for Americans to give and participate in internships and service missions.
Among the many beautiful memories I have of the recent trip, seeing the progress of where the orphanages were in 2003 to where they are in 2009 was very encouraging and inspiring for me. A lot of times when we serve, we give with faith… hoping it’s going to make a difference but we never know for sure how it will help. 
But I can assure you that I’ve seen the before and after of service and wow, it truly does make an impact. Simple things like replacing washtubs with washers and dryers, makes labor lighter and decreases chances of germs and lice… or when you add music and dance into a child’s life (sponsored teachers provided in some homes), there’s a massive increase in confidence and joy because suddenly children now have something to be proud about. Of course, there’s still a lot of work to be done, but in the 18 homes (of 160) One Heart Bulgaria sponsors, I was truly proud and happy to see the results of fundraising firsthand. I wept when I saw the teenage home in Sofia outfitted with new double paned windows and bedroom doors that locked. Whereas previously the windows were all broken and the children had to suffer through the snowy winters also fearing for their personal safety because there was not adequate locks on bedroom doors (homes are co-ed, with kids 7-19 yrs old). Grateful there is more peace… and warmth.
As you can imagine there was also painful moments and difficult experiences as we saw children who were 
living in poor conditions and were receiving poor care. In one home babies were covered in ants and there were cockroaches on their cribs. This sweet baby Boshidara, whose name means “God’s Gift” is truly that.. a beautiful gift and spirit. She was one of those babies covered in ants and in addition suffers from hydrocyphyllis and is now blind. Her situation is desperate and we’re praying for her to be released from this life and to go home to God. Her mission on earth seemed without meaning because of her suffering, yet those who visited her found themselves closer to God through prayers in her behalf and this photo pricks my heart to reach out to love others more fully and hold them close. I’d like to believe that part of her mission was to stretch us to do more for her brothers and sisters so they would have more than she did. In her home there was construction outside and the bugs kept getting into the babies’ cribs, so One Heart Bulgaria is now taking action to clean that up, I’m hoping that the problem will be fixed very soon.
Something that comes up for me (and perhaps you) when I think about orphan children is… WHY do children have to suffer like this? To be honest, I don’t know. But I can tell you that God deeply loves these children 
and I saw His love manifested as I saw older orphans sticking up for younger ones, as I saw teens creating beautiful paper cranes to celebrate a national holiday, as I looked into the eyes of a seven year old girl while she recited poetry, as I saw Mindy Gledhill nurture them as they were her own and as I spoke with an orphanage staff worker who repeatedly told me, “Our Children and The Most Beautiful and Most Good” and truly believed it. Her mantra sent a message to those children and to all those around her that she was happy to work there, love them and believed in who they were and are becoming.
Yes, my dear friend, my heart weeps for Bulgarian orphans and their situation doesn’t make sense to me, but this does: there are people all over the world who are in need and if we continue to open our hearts and ask God what we can do to help and serve them, then I know that little by little the world will become better… this is what I saw in Bulgaria. Little by little there’s been improvements and opportunities are increased that give hope in what can be created in this life when people love, work hard, and believe in a cause. 
One Heart Bulgaria grants wishes for orphans…truly magical. Thank you Deborah Dushku Gardner, Co-Founder and President of One Heart Bulgaria (and one of my dearest friends on the planet) for letting me assist you on this mission, it was an honor. Thank you to Sam Payne and Mindy Gledhill who generously gave of their musical gifts to uplift and encourage orphans and performed fun, upbeat and beautiful concerts for them. Thank you to Jeremy Barron who came to assist with the concerts and will be producing a benefit concert here in Utah in the Fall. Thank you to Brad Luppino, who generously gave of his photography talents so we could document the trip, use in the upcoming concert and for promotional materials. Thank you to Skyler Payne (15), Sam’s son who came to love the children and signed more autographs than his dad and gave me hope in the next generation. I developed a deep love and appreciation for each of my traveling companions, it was a true pleasure.
And remember all children are the most beautiful and good… tell them. 
Visit One Heart Bulgaria and if you feel so inspired, please take a look at how you can get involved as a sponsor or purchase
the CD to hear music by Sam Payne, Mindy Gledhill and others… make a wish, make it happen.
Thank you Kelly for this beautiful post and for honoring these children we love. You were such a huge help and support to me and the entire group, not to mention the orphans themselves! What I love most about you is that you are always seeking to know God’s will and your role in it. Your positive, bright nature and determination to make things happen no matter where you are, where you go, or what you do is a constant inspiration to everyone. So grateful to have you for my friend!
Kelly, the trip was one of the best experiences of my life. I’m honored to have been able to work with these children and to have rubbed elbows with all of you at One Heart Bulgaria. Contributing to this cause gives my life meaning and makes me want to be a better person. Much, Love, Mindy Gledhill